Fire-escape



G. OGDEN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(No Model.)

No. 366,681. Patented July 19, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE OGDEN, OF TRUMANSBURG, NEIV YORK.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,681, dated July 19, 1887.

Serial No. 236,856.

(No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE OGDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trumansburg, in the county of Tompkins and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Escapes, of which 'the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in fire-escapes; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a fire-escape embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same.

A represents a block, which constitutes the main portion of the body of the fire-escape, and is provided nearits lower side with a horizontal opening, 13, and with an opening, 0, arranged at a slight distance above the opening B. On the opposite sides of the block are bolted the upper ends of metallic arms D, which depend from the block. The ends of the bolls E which secure the arms to the block are provided with thumb-nuts E, by means of which the arms may be clamped firmly against the sides of the block or relaxed slightly thereon, for the purpose to be hereinafter described.

G represents a drum, which is jou rnaled between the arms D at a slight distance below the block A. On the said drum is wound athin flexible strap, H, which is preferably made of steel, but may be made of othersuitable material. The free end of the strap passes from the drum through the openings B and O of the block, and to the'upper end of the strap is attached a pair of hooks, I, adapted to engage a windowsill or other object, so asto secure the upper end of the strap rigidly thereto.

The lower ends of the metallic arms D eX- tend downward a slight distance below the drum, and to one of the said arms is attached a lever-strap, K, and to the opposite arm is attached a similar but longer strap, L, which is provided with a snap-hook, M, adapted to engage a ring, N, on the lower end of the strap K. 0 represents the crossbar or yoke, which is provided near its ends with transverse openings, through which the straps K and L extend.

The operation of my invention is as follows: In order to escape from a burning building, the person who has the fire-escape hooks the straps K and L around his body below his arms, and he then engages the hooks I firmly to the under side of the windowsill on the inner side of the room, and climbs out of the window and hangs suspended therefrom by the metallic strap H. The weight of the person causes the drum G to rotate and uncoil the strap H, and thereby lower the fire-cscape and the person to the ground. By passing the strap I-I through the openings B and O the friction between the strap and the block A is so great as to prevent the fire-escape from descending with the person with dangerous rapidity. The. person escaping from the build ing grasps the lower ends of the arms I), and by pressing the same together he can increase the friction between the arms and the drum G to such an extent as to regulate the speed with which he is lowered. The yoke or cross-bar O prevents the lower ends of the arms D from spreading apart and relaxing their frictional contact with the drum. The thumb-nut F on the threaded end of the bolt E may also be turned to increase or diminish the friction of the arms on the ends of the drum.

A fire-escape thus constructed is extremely cheapand simple, is portable, and is well adapted to be carried by travelers in a small valise, so that it may be kept constantly in their possession and afford means of escape from a burning building when needed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a friction fire-escape, the con'ibination of the block A, having the openings B O, the arms D, depending from the said block, the drum journaled between the said arms, and the strap H, wound on the drum and passed through the openings B0, and means, substantially as described, to compress the arms against the ends of the drum, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

2. In a friction fire-escape, the combination of the block A, having the openings B C, the

anms D, secured on the said block, the bolt E In testimony that I'elaim the foregoing as IO and nut F, to clamp the arms, the drum jourmy own I have hereto affixed my signature in naled between the arms and provided with presence of two witnesses.

the strap, extending upward through the open- 5 ings B O, and the straps K and L, attached to GEORGE OGDEN.

the lower ends of the arms and adapted to form a loop, and the cross-bar or yoke 0, adapted WVitnesses: to slide on the saidstraps, substantially as de- J. DEMOT'IE SMITH, scribed. DAVID S. PRATT. 

